2011 Autism Law Summit

The 6th Annual Autism Law Summit convened this past weekend at a new location — the University of Utah’s Susan J. Quinney School of Law, but with the same underlying theme — the passage, implementation and enforcement of meaningful autism insurance reform across the nation. Lorri Unumb, Autism Speaks VP of State Government Affairs, facilitated the Summit, as she has for the past six years.

It’s worth noting that the Summit has evolved from an informal gathering of a handful of advocates passing around a hat to collect pizza money, to a capacity-level event, involving more than 100 registrants from 33 states. And once again, hope and ideas intersected with the blood, sweat and tears of parents, providers, lawyers, legislators and regulators, creating undeniable momentum in the effort to create a system where individuals diagnosed with an ASD can access coverage for the life-changing treatments they need.

A highlight of the event was the presentation of the 2011 “Speak Out” award to Lou Melgarejo for his YouTube video, “Fixing” Autism, which he produced in honor of his daughter Bianca and the difficulties faced by families in gaining insurance coverage for needed therapies.

Special guests, Utah Representative Merlynn Newbold and Professor Bonnie Mitchell from the S.J. Quinney College of Law, welcomed attendees prior to Lorri Unumb’s presentation,” Autism Insurance Reform Across America.” Honored as part of the presentation were the five states that passed legislation since the previous Summit: Arkansas, Virginia, West Virginia, Rhode Island and California.

· A presentation on implementation issues by panelists Billy Edwards, MS, BCBA, of Texas; Mike Wasmer of Kansas, and Amy Weinstock of Massachusetts sharing their experiences implementing autism insurance laws in their respective states

· A primer on developing successful grassroots advocacy at the state level to gain autism insurance reform by Shelley Hendrix, Autism Speaks, Director of Grassroots Development

· A mock legislative hearing on autism insurance reform, providing an opportunity for attendees to experience first-hand the challenges frequently experienced by advocates

· Insights by the Autism Speaks Government Relations team specific to grassroots development, communications, policy, implementation and enforcement

As attendees dispersed Sunday morning, heading back home to different parts of the country, smiles and hugs of encouragement were shared by colleagues old and new. Once again, the connection of hope and ideas had been sparked. Truly, 2012 is destined to be another year of hard-fought progress in the effort to ensure access to autism insurance coverage, step by step, state by state, plan by plan, family by family.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! My daughter has hf autism and I am trying to get her therapy covered under the city of seattle self funded plan. My family needs support and wec are glad were getting it from you :)